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babywearing 101
A HOW-T O P RIMER ON P OUCHE S, SL INGS, W R A P S — A ND E V ERY T HING IN BE T W EEN
cradle
high back
re verse cradle
back
mothering
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JANUARY
snug gle , front facing in
( tummy-to-tummy)
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FEBRUARY 2007
front facing out,
leg s in ( k a n g a r o o )
hip
front facing out,
legs out
reprinted from
mothering
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BENEFITS AND COMMON CONCERNS
The advantages of babywearing and
how to avoid the pitfalls
BY MARIA BLOIS AND M’LISS STELZER
TYPES OF CARRIERS
Step-by-step instructions for the variety of
devices and ways to wear your baby
BY M’LISS STELZER
PROPER POSITIONING
Correctly wearing your baby ensures
your child will breath with ease.
BY M’LISS STELZER
DOS AND DON’TS
Troubleshooting common problems
BY DARIEN WILSON
M Y O T H E R C O AT I S A N A M A U T I K
Discover an ingenious parka from the Inuit of Nunavut.
BY JENNIFER GORDON
THE MAGIC CLOTH
A gorgeous sling turns a frumpy mama into a fashionista.
BY ROBIN DUTTON-COOKSTON
TYPES OF CARRIES: Throughout the following pages, we refer to
several different positions that can be used in babywearing. On the
cover, babywearing expert M’Liss Stelzer demonstrates how all of
these positions can be achieved with the same wrap.
babywearing
bliss
Carry your little one—safely and with panache!
I
nstinctually, babywearing always struck a
chord with me. It felt right—I wanted my children nestled close to me, within kissing range. As
a former NICU nurse, I also knew that babywearing was best for babies’ psychological and physical
development. However, following this philosophy
wasn’t free of challenges.
When my daughter was born, I carried her in a
front pack-style carrier until she was ten months old.
After the birth of my son, I carried him in the same
carrier that had worked for his sister. However,
by the time he was ﬁve months old, my son
weighed almost 20 pounds. He was such a little chunk that his
legs would turn blue after 15 or 20 minutes in the carrier, and
my lower back was starting to ache. I was frantic. With a toddler to chase, I needed to carry my son hands-free. There had
to be some other type of carrier I could use.
I turned to the Internet and was astonished to ﬁnd countless carriers available online: pouches, ring slings, wraps,
Asian styles, hip carriers, and more, all in diﬀerent fabrics and
designs. I was overwhelmed, but determined to ﬁnd a carrier
suited for my son and for me.
Fast-forward a year: I never did ﬁnd that one perfect carrier. Instead I found . . . well, I won’t count them all, but that’s
me—I’m crazy about baby carriers, in all of their diﬀerent
incarnations. You, on the other hand, may need only one or
two carriers in your life. This article aims to help you ﬁnd them.
I’ve followed my babywearing bliss by teaching babywearing
classes and doing personal consultations, and I’ve researched
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the importance of correct positioning and how it impacts the
oxygenation levels of newborns (see page 10). I have tried and
tested more than 60 brands of carriers. I use pouches and ring
slings around the house or at the playground, where the kids
want up and down a lot. When I need to run a quick errand, I
can pop my son or daughter in a sling. For longer expeditions,
such as hiking or grocery shopping, I like my Ergo carrier and
mei tais. And I love my wraps for cuddling my daughter or
breastfeeding my son. Even though my daughter is now four
years old, sometimes she just needs that special TLC that comes
from snuggling into me as I do things around the house. My
husband also appreciates the mobile nurturing he can give to our
children via babywearing. It makes life easier for the whole family.
Read on to ﬁnd out how babywearing can make life easier
for your family too. After outlining the beneﬁts of babywearing, I answer common questions and concerns, and then
provide the meat of the story—a pictorial primer on the
basic ways of carrying as well as the types of babywearing
devices. You’ll be educated in kangaroo, cradle, and snuggle
carries, as well as in typical carriers, from the easiest to the
most complex: pouches, ring slings, Asian-style, soft packs,
and wraps. Read the list of dos and don’ts and the instructions on the correct positioning of infants, and you’re set!
The resources on page 14 oﬀer additional support.
Happy babywearing!
M’Liss Stelzer, a Registered Nurse, is now a stay-at-home
mom to two babywearing-savvy children (4 and 2) and wife
to a busy pediatrician. She and her family live in Santa Fe,
New Mexico.
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why babywearing’s
the best
Fewer tears and better sleep are just two ways
babies benefit from being close to you.
iologically, babies need to be carried
in order to thrive. Studies have shown
that otherwise well nourished and cared
for infants who are deprived of human
touch fail to thrive, and can even die.
Research shows that babies who
are held often:
• Cry less: The more babies are held, the less they cry.
The long-term consequences of letting infants cry without responding
are just beginning to be understood.
One study found that letting babies
cry permanently alters the nervous
system by ﬂooding the developing
brain with stress hormones. This
makes these babies overly sensitive
to future trauma, and may lead to
incidents of post-traumatic stress
and panic disorders in adulthood.
Babies who cry less in the ﬁrst few
months cry less in the following year.
Responding quickly to your crying
baby is an investment—the less she
cries now, the more peaceful the
upcoming year will be.
BENEFITS
• Are more calm and content:
3
Carried babies have a more regular
respiratory rate, heart rate, and steady
internal body temperature. Even very
tiny premature babies can be carried
safely in a sling without danger of
compromised breathing or heart rate.
• Sleep more peacefully: Keeping baby close helps baby
organize his sleep/wake cycles. Naptimes are spent in
constant motion, close to mother’s heart, and nighttime is
dark and still, with a loved parent nearby. This helps baby
know the diﬀerence between daytime and nighttime, an
important step in sleeping longer stretches at night. One
study of premature infants found that babies had longer
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intervals of quiet sleep when they had skin-to-skin contact
with mother.
• Nurse better, gain weight better: Research has shown
that premature babies who are touched and held gain
weight faster and are healthier than babies who are not.
Full-term babies nurse more frequently when they are
carried close to mother.
• Enjoy better digestion: The constant motion and
frequent small feedings associated with
carrying baby can promote good
digestion. Babies who are carried
often spit up less. Babies with gastroesophageal reﬂux disease (GERD)
can beneﬁt from being carried in
the upright position after a feeding.
When baby is upright, the force of
gravity helps the acid stay down in the
stomach where it belongs.
• Develop better: Babies who are
held experience human touch and
movement. This stimulation has
been shown to have a positive eﬀect
on the baby’s development. Carrying
baby enhances motor skills by stimulating the vestibular system (used for
balance). Baby constantly readjusts
as mother moves around, using his
developing muscles to hold his head
up, kick his feet and use his arms to
cling to mother. Because soft carriers
keep pressure oﬀ the back of the
head, carried babies are at a much lower risk for plagiocephaly (asymmetrical head shape). Carrying baby
naturally limits the time baby spends in hard plastic
carriers, such as carseats, automatic swings, and such.
Holding baby while moving counts as “tummy time.”
Excerpt from Babywearing: The Beneﬁts and Beauty of
This Ancient Tradition, by Maria Blois, MD (Pharmasoft
Publishing, 2005).
PHOTOS THIS SPREAD PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR
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so you’ve tried before and failed . . .
“I tried a baby carrier, but my baby hated it.”
First, determine how baby prefers to be held in your arms;
then, using the carrier, mimic this position.
For instance, a baby who hates being cradled
in your arms will likely hate being cradled in
a pouch. If baby loves being nestled high on
mom’s chest, she’s likely to be happy and
content when swaddled in the same position.
Some babies like their legs curled, and others
like them straight.
The advantage of an
unstructured fabric carrier is that it is
possible to cater to even the most ﬁnicky
baby. Babies will often fuss a little when ﬁrst
placed in a carrier, but once the wearer starts
moving, most babies will quickly calm down.
If your baby doesn’t, assess other factors: Is
the carrier digging into baby anywhere?
Is baby overheated, or maybe just hungry?
“I tried using a baby carrier, but it hurt
my back.”
Buy from experts. The best way to ﬁnd a comfortable carrier
that will be useful from the newborn through the toddler
stages is to buy one from a company that specializes in
baby carriers. These companies—often small, Internet-only
businesses run by work-at-home moms—
are dedicated to creating safe, top-notch
carriers. And because they actually use
their own products, these proprietors
can often troubleshoot any problems.
For a baby carrier to be comfortable, it
needs to hold the child at the same level
and height as when the child is held in
the wearer’s arms.
Pulled in close
with legs wrapped
around mom’s
waist.
Most important, check that baby is in the
correct position. For newborns, see page
53. With older babies, remember that once
they become interested in the world around
them, they may fuss if placed facing inward,
or too deep to see what’s going on. Usually,
after working with the carrier a few times,
both mom and baby will ﬁgure out what is
mutually comfortable.
If hands-on help from a local babywearer isn’t available,
look under “In-Person Help” in the “For More
Information”section, on page 14, for resources.
Babywearing has exploded in popularity
in the last few years. In the 1970s I carried my babies in a corduroy
Snugli and made a backpack from a Kelty kit. By the 1980s,
Mothering was publishing articles on making your own baby
carrier and how to wrap a rebozo. Over the Shoulder Baby Holder
was founded in 1987, and two years later, Dr. William Sears,
creator of the NoJo baby carrier, wrote an article for us on a new
phenomenon: the sling. Other pioneers in the ﬁeld of baby carriers
include Baby Trekker, Baby Wrap, New Native, and Maya Wrap.
Front pack-style
carry with a
three-year old.
Proper positioning
correctly distributes the child’s weight,
so that carrying will not be painful, even
as the child grows.
COMMON CONCERNS
tip: Get the help of an experienced babywearer.
Most commonly
available front-pack
carriers support the
child by the crotch and
leave the legs dangling
down. This position
causes the child’s
weight to pull down and
away from the wearer’s
body, causing unnatural
stress on the wearer’s
back and shoulders.
Cuddling with
mom, asleep in
gauze wrap.
In just the last two years, there have been major changes in
the industry, and many new carriers have come on the market.
This article does not attempt to review them all, but rather
recommends some to illustrate proper positioning and safety. We
did not solicit samples of carriers for this review, however, so it
is not comprehensive. Additional carriers are listed in “For More
Information” on page 14. If we’ve omitted any, please let
us know.
— PEGGY O’MAR A , EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
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great gearand how
Wear your baby in style with the cornucopia of carriers available.
keep-it-simple pouches
hip carry in a fitted pouch
F O L D T U B E O F FA B R I C .
SLIP OVER YOUR HEAD.
DROP BABY IN.
A D J U S T.
ALL DONE!
TYPES OF CARRIERS
ﬁtted pouches
A ﬁtted pouch is simply a tube of fabric sized to ﬁt the wearer.
Because there are no rings, snaps, or buckles to work with, ﬁtted pouches are often considered the training wheels of babywearing. The pouch is sized according to the wearer’s weight,
height, chest breadth, and shoulder-to-hip length.
Favorites: Hotslings, Peanut Shell
adjustable pouches
These pouches can be sized via snaps, zippers, drawstrings,
or Aplix (similar to Velcro but much stronger). (On some
pouch/ring-sling hybrids, the rings are used for adjustment.)
Adjustable pouches can be conveniently shared among caregivers, and easily accommodate weight loss or gain, or bulky
winter clothing. On the downside, they’re somewhat bulky,
and repositioning the baby—for instance, from a front to a
back carry—may be slightly more challenging because the
pouch’s structural elements can drag or bunch.
Positions: Pouches are most commonly used for the
cradle, kangaroo, and hip carries (see reprint cover for
carry types); they can also be used for back carries.
Tips: A fabric containing 2 percent Lycra is best: it’s the
most comfortable; it allows the pouch to conform to the
shoulder, which prevents the pouch from slipping; and it
gives the pouch a slight amount of bounce that can keep a
wiggly baby from wrenching mom’s back.
A padded rail (the sling’s outer or inner edge) turned
to the outside makes it easier to get a newborn into the
pouch by giving mom a handle and keeping the fabric
from falling over baby’s face. If baby wants to sit up, it
provides a small cushion for the head. If baby is held in
a hip carry, the padded rail, turned to the inside, cushions
the back of baby’s legs.
Favorites: Mom-and-Me Creations (Pea in a Pod),
Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece, UpMama (hybrid)
P H O T O S T H I S PA G E P R O V I D E D B Y H O T S L I N G S
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BABYWEARING 101
to use it
Here are the basic types and step-by-step instructions.
B Y
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S T E L Z E R
versatile ring slings
kangaroo carry i n a n o p e n - t a i l s l i n g
SLIP THE SLING OVER
ONE ARM AND HEAD.
C R E AT E A P O U C H
F O R B A B Y.
SETTLE BABY INTO
THE SLING.
A ring sling is a long loop of fabric that runs through a set
MAKE SURE BABY IS SECURE.
VOILÀ!
others. However, a dupioni- or shantung-silk ring sling is
unsurpassed for comfort. Silk is supportive yet lightweight and
breathable, and it runs through rings smoothly while staying
put after adjustment.
Favorites: Oopa Baby, Sleeping Baby Productions,
ZoloWear, EllaRoo, Maya Wrap (lightly padded shoulder),
Pretty Momma Sling
Positions: Ring slings are most commonly used for the cradle,
reverse cradle, snuggle, kangaroo, and hip and back carries.
Tips: Make sure the rings used are made speciﬁcally for slings;
the thin, welded rings sold in crafts stores are not safe to hold
a baby. Rings created for slings, commonly made of aluminum
or nylon, are safety-tested to 250 pounds and sold at www.sling
rings.com. There are many diﬀerent shoulder styles for both
open- and closed-tail slings. Many moms ﬁnd shoulder styles
that oﬀer some articulation to be more comfortable.
T YPES OF CARRIERS
of adjustable rings. There are two types of ring slings: closedtail and open-tail.
In a closed-tail sling, the fabric ends in a strap that can
be adjusted for diﬀerent-size wearers or for ease of removing
a baby. Most closed-tail slings are padded at the shoulder and
in the rails. While shoulder padding may add comfort, many
mothers ﬁnd that, in general, padding adds unnecessary bulk
to the sling; rail padding, especially, can get stuck in the rings.
In an open-tail sling, a wide length of fabric passes
through the rings. With the tail open, individual sections of
the fabric can be adjusted for a more customized ﬁt. While it
often takes longer to learn to use an open-tail than a closedtail sling, the open-tail variety oﬀers versatility, increased
comfort for the wearer, and a more secure carry for the
child. The tail can be used for shade, or as a breastfeeding
cover-up, blanket, or burp cloth. The pocket in the tail can
hold a diaper, wipes, and a small wallet.
There are a variety of wonderful sling fabrics, including
organic cotton, stretchy blends, sun-protective cloth, and
TIGHTEN ANY SLACK BY
P U L L I N G O N T H E TA I L .
P H O T O S T H I S PA G E P R O V I D E D B Y O O PA B A B Y
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adventurous asian style
tummy-to-tummy in a mei tai carrier
WRAP THE SHORT STRAPS
A R O U N D Y O U R WA I S T.
T I E A S E C U R E K N O T.
HOLDING BABY AGAINST YOUR
CHEST, PULL THE PANEL UP
OVER BABY’S BACK.
PLACE THE LONG STRAPS
OVER YOUR SHOULDERS.
TYPES OF CARRIERS
An Asian-style carrier features square or rectangular panels
of fabric and two or four straps, which are used to secure the
baby to the wearer. The onbuhimo, podegi, hmong, and bei
bei carriers use two straps; the mei tai (pronounced may-tie)
uses four. The mei tai is the most popular type of Asian-style
carrier. For more information on the diﬀerent types of Asianstyle carriers, go to www.freehandbaby.com/instructions.php.
Asian-style carriers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and
fabrics. Most have fairly narrow, padded straps; others have
wider, unpadded straps that hug the babywearer’s shoulder
in the same way an unpadded ring sling or wrap does. Some
have ﬂaps or hoods that can be pulled up to support a sleeping baby’s head, or left down when not needed. For a toddler,
a carrier with a larger panel, such as a Kozy, will hold the
child more securely and oﬀer better head support should the
child fall asleep.
Favorites: Kozy (larger panel, supportive canvas fabric),
Napsack (contoured body and wide, wrap-like shoulder
straps), FreeHand Baby Carriers (smaller panel), Babyhawk
(medium-size panel, but also oﬀered in extra-tall and/or
with ﬂip-up headrest), Sachi (medium panel), Mei Tai Baby
(adjustable feature narrows the bottom of the carrier)
CROSS THE STRAPS.
CROSS STRAPS OVER CHILD
A N D K N O T.
Positions: Asian-style carriers are most commonly used
for the snuggle, back, and high-back carries and can be used
for hip carries.
Tips: If the wearer
wishes to use a mei
tai with a taller panel
for a newborn or
smaller baby, rolling
the bottom of the
carrier will make it
shorter. Tiny babies
normally must have
their legs ﬂexed and
inside the carrier.
For babies who
don’t want to have
their legs inside the
carrier, a smallerbodied or contoured
mei tai lets the legs
hang free.
ALL DONE!
P H O T O S T H I S PA G E P R O V I D E D B Y F R E E H A N D B A B Y C A R R I E R S A N D M I R A C U L O U S M E M O R I E S
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easy-to-learn soft packs
back carry in a soft pack
B U C K L E WA I S T B E LT.
.
SCOOT BABY ONTO
YOUR BACK.
B R I N G U P PA N E L A N D
SHOULDER STRAPS.
B U C K L E S T E R N U M S T R A P.
TIGHTEN SHOULDER STRAPS.
Soft-pack carriers are based on Asian-style carriers but
TYPES OF CARRIERS
are modernized with buckles, extra padding in the shoulder
straps, and/or a wide, padded waist belt to distribute weight
onto the hips. This style of carrier is the easiest two-shoulder carrier to learn. It bypasses the “dragging strap problem” of Asian-style and wrap carriers, and its backpack-like
style appeals to dads. Even though they do not have a
frame, soft-pack carriers are still fairly structured. As such,
they tend to oﬀer fewer positioning options, and are much
less adjustable than the unstructured Asian-style carriers
on which they’re based.
Favorites: Ergo, Patapum, Beco Baby
Positions: Soft-structured packs are most often used for the
snuggle and/or back carries. Some are designed for hip carries.
Tips: Because soft carriers are more structured, there is
often diﬃculty ﬁtting those wearers who are not of average
build. Mamas under ﬁve feet tall ﬁnd the shoulder straps
too long, and those over six feet may ﬁnd the straps too
short. Very thin or plus-size parents may also ﬁnd it challenging to achieve a comfortable ﬁt. Because in a soft-pack
carrier the baby always faces the wearer, this type of carrier
is not optimal for an infant who insists on facing outward.
C H E C K T H AT PA N E L I S H I G H O N B A B Y ’ S B A C K
A N D B A B Y I S S E AT E D D E E P LY
IN THE CARRIER.
P H O T O S T H I S PA G E P R O V I D E D B Y S O B E B A B Y
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oh-so-comfortable wraps
tummy-to-tummy in a wrap
CENTER THE WRAP IN FRONT OF YOU.
TYPES OF CARRIERS
C R O S S FA B R I C O V E R B A B Y
AND KNOT IN BACK.
B R I N G FA B R I C A R O U N D T O
THE BACK AND OVER YOUR
SHOULDER.
R E P E AT W I T H T H E O T H E R
SIDE, MAKING AN “X”
ON YOUR BACK.
PULL OPEN THE POCKET
AND SETTLE BABY IN.
M A K E S U R E FA B R I C
I S S P R E A D O U T.
A wrap, or wraparound carrier, is a long, rectangular
piece of cloth. Wraps are the most unstructured of baby
carriers, and learning to use them demands patience and
ﬂexibility. But the eﬀort is well worth it: wraps are incredibly, magically comfortable, and can be tied in a multitude
of ways to suit many body types and carry positions.
Stretchy wraps are wonderful for beginners because they
can be pre-tied, and the baby can be popped in and out easily.
They’re best for newborns or small children; heavy children
(usually more than 20 pounds) will stretch the fabric to the
point where it is no longer supportive. A hybrid wrap that is
slightly stretchy but also supportive can be used for a larger
baby or toddler. German-style woven wraps made of fabrics
that have a subtle “grip” oﬀer more support and security and
can be used from newborns on up.
Favorite Stretchy Wraps: Moby, Hug-a-bub, Joey Wrap
(The Joey Wrap gently bounces baby as you move.)
Favorite Hybrid Wraps: Gypsy Mama’s Bali Baby Stretch,
Favorite German-style Woven Wraps: Didymos,
Storchenwiege, Hoppediz
Tips: There are several things to consider when purchasing
a readymade wrap or making one using your own fabric:
there must be enough width (usually about 28 inches) to
cover baby adequately; the fabric should be able to support
baby’s weight without sagging; and the wrap should have
enough stretch to conform to baby, but not so much that
it permits him or her to lean outward.
Wraps do have a downside: with several yards of fabric
wrapped around wearer and baby, it can get warm. Cooking
in a hot kitchen or braving the summer heat will be cooler in a
hand-dyed Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Breeze gauze wrap—or an
EllaRoo wrap made of 100 percent handwoven Guatemalan
cotton. But because these wraps are made of thin fabrics, it’s
important to wrap an older child carefully to prevent painful
pressure points: small areas on the wearer’s body—usually the
shoulders—bearing a much larger proportion of the weight.
Mom-and-Me Creations’ Hot Mama
P H O T O S T H I S PA G E P R O V I D E D B Y G Y P S Y M A M A
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wear your baby
right
Carrying your child in the correct position ensures
that baby will breathe with ease.
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safety ﬁrst!
The most obvious issue of safety in babywearing is to make sure the child is securely attached to the wearer. But there is another, less obvious issue: good ventilation
for the baby’s ease of breathing. Often, parents assume that if a baby has diﬃculty
breathing, he or she will fuss or cry—and indeed, most infants will protest if they
are struggling for breath. However, newborns, babies born prematurely, or
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR
infants with low muscle tone or developmental delays may not communicate their distress. Precautions are outlined in this section.
These positioning recommendations are for use with infants from birth to
four months old. But no matter your baby’s age and weight, please use common sense and monitor baby frequently.
general guidelines
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PROPER POSITIONING
• When placing a newborn in a carrier, baby should not be tightly
curled, chin to chest; this position partially closes baby’s airway.
Once baby becomes old enough to have good head control, the
neck muscles are generally strong enough to keep the airway
clear, even if baby becomes slightly curled or slumped in a
carrier (or car seat, swing, bouncer, etc.).
• Sling fabric should not be draped across baby’s face. With
slings made of thin, airy fabrics, check for airﬂow by placing the fabric over your own nose and mouth. No matter
how “breathable” the fabric looks, if you ﬁnd it diﬃcult to
breathe through, it will be diﬃcult for baby as well.
• Baby’s face should not be pressed tightly against the
wearer’s body. Position the face upward when baby is not
actively nursing; during nursing, ensure that baby’s nose is
not blocked.
• An infant should be repositioned if he or she shows any sign
of respiratory diﬃculty. Symptoms include: rapid or labored
breathing, grunting or sighing with every breath, and/or restlessness.
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cradle carry
pouches and closed-tail slings
The amount of modiﬁcation necessary to correctly
position an infant in a pouch depends on the depth
of the pouch and the size of the baby. Usually, once
baby weighs between 8 and 12 pounds, modiﬁcations
are no longer necessary.
ring slings
Pulling more fabric
against the wearer’s
chest and/or moving
the pouch seam
slightly behind
baby’s back can
change the pouch’s
depth.
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RECEIVING BLANKET
To keep baby centered on the folded
blanket, it is often easier to spread out
a receiving blanket, place a second
folded blanket on top of that, then
center baby on the second folded
blanket.
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One of the most common mistakes made with
ring slings is positioning
the baby in the pouch
parallel to the rails. This
basically folds the baby
in half.
DON’T
When placing a newborn in a pouch or a closed-tail sling, a support pillow or receiving blanket may be necessary. The depth of
the pouch and/or the size of the baby will determine which is
most appropriate. It is especially important that a supportive surface be used for premature infants carried in a pouch or a sling
because these babies have low muscle tone and extremely poor
head control.
If you are using a support pillow in a deep pouch, place it behind baby’s head and back. Support pillows and instructions on
how to make them can be found at www.newnativebaby.com.
If you are using a folded receiving blanket in a shallow pouch,
place it only behind baby’s back, not behind baby’s head.
DO
PROPER POSITIONING
correct positioning
To correctly place an
infant in an open-tail
sling, begin by putting
the baby in more of
a tummy-to-tummy
position, with her trunk
perpendicular to the
rails; then slide baby
down into the sling by
lowering her upper body
sideways.
Mom is using a
smaller pouch, and
support pillow is
under baby.
Pouch is too big for
mom, and baby is
hanging too low;
no support pillow
under baby.
PHOTOS THIS SPREAD PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR
Equal amount of fabric
in front of and behind
baby, and bum is centered on pouch seam.
DON’T
DO
GOOD
BEST
Baby’s body should lie diagonally across the width of the
sling, her head nearer the outer rail and her legs nearer
the inner rail. This allows baby’s body to stretch out,
keeps the outer rail from ﬂopping over her face, and makes
it easier to tighten the sling
properly without completely
changing her position.
If baby is too “deep” in the
sling, pull on the tail, focusing
on the middle of the sling, until the pouch is the right depth
to raise and straighten baby.
tummy-to-tummy carry
DO
ring slings
mei tais
DO
To keep baby upright and
supported against the wearer’s
chest, tighten the top and bottom rails as well as the middle
of the sling. The top rail is
used to support baby’s neck
and head.
DON’T
Baby should be placed on the wearer’s chest, the carrier brought up
behind baby’s back and the shoulder straps draped over the wearer’s
shoulders. While supporting baby with one hand, reach back and
grab one shoulder strap, and with a ﬁrm but gentle pulling motion,
tighten the strap until it is fairly snug. Repeat with the opposite strap.
(This can also be done with one hand pulling both shoulder straps at
the same time.) The shoulder straps should then be brought around
and tied securely behind baby’s back. If there is enough length, the
straps can be crossed, brought around the wearer’s back, and tied.
Baby is properly supported
by the carrier’s body, and
shoulder straps are tied
ﬁrmly across baby’s back.
Mei tai not tied tightly
enough; baby has begun to
slump, his body dropping
deeper into the carrier body.
DO
DON’T
wraps
To see if baby is positioned
correctly, press a hand
against his back. If baby
moves closer—that is, his
tummy moves up against
yours and he uncurls somewhat—then the wrap is not
giving his back enough
support.
PROPER POSITIONING
It is very easy to tie a wrap incorrectly so there is not enough
support for the baby’s back.
The wrap should then be retied
so that baby is in an upright,
straight position instead of
curled.
BABYWEARING 101
|
mothering
12
don’t
Rings are in
corsage position,
in the hollow
under mom’s
shoulder. Shoulder
folds are pulled
out, and sling cups
mom’s shoulder.
A narrow band of
fabric puts all the
weight on mom’s
neck. Low rings create
a smaller pouch for
baby. Moving the
shoulder folds toward
mom’s neck makes the
top rail too loose; baby
is leaning back, too far
away from mom.
Baby’s legs are
bent and spread
like a frog’s around
mom. Baby’s
bottom is lower
than his knees, so
baby can’t slip out.
Fabric is spread
evenly from baby’s
neck to his knees.
Baby’s legs hang
straight down.
Baby could slip
out of the bottom
of the sling—only
friction keeps him
in the sling.
Fabric is spread
wide across
mom’s back and
shoulder. The
wider the fabric is
spread, the more
comfortable the
sling is for mom.
Fabric twisted
narrowly across
mom’s back digs
in to create
pressure points.
Baby rides high on
mom’s body.
Wearing baby at or
above her waist is
more comfortable
for mom’s back.
Wearing baby
this low causes
back fatigue for
mom.
Baby is pulled
in close to mom.
A snug top rail is
more comfortable for mom’s
back.
Top rail is too
loose and baby
leans too far back.
Baby and mom do
not feel secure,
and a leaning baby
hurts mom’s back.
Note: While the images above are of a baby
carried in a ring sling, these “Dos and Don’ts”
apply to all types of baby carriers.
Darien Wilson is the owner of ZoloWear.
P H O T O S B Y S H E L LY R E E S E
W I L S O N
D A R I E N
B Y
Troubleshooting common problems
making it work
DOS AND DON’TS
do
for more information
Websites
Carriers Galore
www.kozycarrier.com—Excellent instructions on how to wear a
mei tai.
www.mothering.com and www.attachedtobaby.com—Both of
these sites sponsor babywearing forums.
As you can see by the list below, carriers are available in abundance
online. With babywearing on the rise, new companies join the marketplace rapidly. E-mail [email protected] to let us know of
any other great carrier vendors that may not be listed here.
www.oopababy.com—Help in using ring slings.
www.attachedtot.com
www.mybeibei.com
www.RebozoWay.org—Rebozo Way is a nonproﬁt organization
dedicated to educating the public about traditional methods of birthing, family, and community relationships, and about in-arms and
attachment parenting as practiced by indigenous peoples around
the world.
www.babybundler.com
www.napsackbaby.com
www.babyhawk.com
www.newnativebaby.com
www.babyholder.com
www.oopababy.com
www.babytrekker.com
www.patapum.com
www.thebabywearer.com—This terriﬁc if somewhat overwhelming site is dedicated almost entirely to babywearing. It offers a product directory, articles, and reviews of baby carriers and babywearingrelated products. The discussion forums are very active; experienced
members offer basic advice to new babywearers as well as discuss
the minutiae of wrap weaves, sling shoulder styles, etc.
www.bundlesoﬂuv.ca
www.poshpapoose.com
www.didymos.de/english
www.prettymamaslings.com
www.divasnbabes.com
www.sachicarriers.com
www.dreambirdstudio.com
www.sleepingbaby.net
www.ecobabies.com
www.sproutpouch.com
www.the-ergo-lady.com—Soft-pack instructions as well as tips
and tricks.
www.edenbabycarrier.com
www.storchenwiege.de
www.WearYourBaby.com—The site of the Mamatoto Project,
which offers babywearing instructions, videos, tutorials, and easy
directions on how to make your own no-sew baby carrier.
www.ellaroo.com
www.sutemigear.com
www.ergobabycarrier.com
www.sweetnessproducts.com
www.freehandbaby.com
www.taylormadeslings.com
www.zolowear.com—For comprehensive help in how to use your
ring sling, click on “Wearing.”
www.goo-ga.com
www.upmama.com
www.gypsymama.com
www.wallababy.com
E-mail Group
www.heavenlybundle.com
www.wisewomansling.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/babywearing—One of several
babywearing e-mail groups to be found on Yahoo. Another focuses
on sewing your own carriers, and one is strictly for buying and selling used carriers.
www.hoppediz.com
www.zolowear.com
www.hotslings.com
www.hugabub.com
www.joeywrap.com
DVD and Video Streams
Tummy 2 Tummy—Produced for the beginning babywearer, this
DVD includes more than 2.5 hours of information about pouches,
ring slings, mei tais, and wraps.
For online video streams, see www.oopababy.com (ring slings),
www.zolowear.com (pouches, ring slings), www.jenncatsmeow.
com (pouches, ring slings, Asian-style), and www.wearyourbaby.org
(wraps, ring slings).
www.kangarookorner.com
www.kiddiecradles.com
www.kozycarrier.com
www.littlepepperpouches.com
www.lucky-baby.com
www.mammasmilk.com
www.mayawrap.com
Book
www.meitaibaby.com
www.mobywrap.com
www.mom-and-me-creations.com
In-Person Help
www.nineinnineout.org—Nine In Nine Out (NINO) is a nonproﬁt
organization dedicated to helping caregivers learn to wear their
babies. Go to “Groups” to see if there is a chapter in your area.
www.thebabywearer.com—See the “Teaching and Advocacy”
forum, then the subforum “Classes, Workshops and Babywearing
Groups.”
M’Liss Stelzer would like to acknowledge New Native Baby
and Maya Wrap for providing equipment used in her study
of correct positioning. Special thanks to Holly McCroskey,
Darien Wilson, and Amy Abreu.
BABYWEARING 101
|
mothering
RESOURCES
Blois, Maria, MD. Babywearing: The Beneﬁts and Beauty of This
Ancient Tradition. Pharmasoft Publishing, 2005. This comprehensive
book offers instructions on choosing and using a baby carrier.
14
my other coat is an
amautik
For carrying baby in frigid temperatures, discover an ingenious
parka from the indigenous people of northern Canada.
15
mothering
|
BABYWEARING 101
J E N N I F E R
G O R D O N
tions or beliefs. The design and construction of the
amautik have been passed down through generations of Inuit women and are their intellectual property. If this garment is not protected and respected,
there is a risk that—like the kamik (mukluk), the
duﬄe sock, and the kayak, all innovations created
by the Inuit people—the amautik will be appropriated for mass consumption with no recognition of
the intellectual property rights of its creators.
To learn more about the women of Nunavut,
visit www.pauktuutit.ca.
Jennifer Gordon is a work-at-home mother of two
young children; she loves to adventure and play
outdoors with her kids in all kinds of weather.
For more information about the amautik, visit
www.hipbundles.com.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR
I
am a babywearing mama who lives in
North Bay, Ontario, Canada. My ancestral heritage being Norwegian, Finnish,
Irish, and English, the love of cold is in my
blood. But staying warm while wearing
a baby in the lovely but frigid Canadian
winters presented a problem. I found the
solution in the amautik (AH-mow-TEA),
the traditional garment used by the Inuit
of Nunavut, the Canadian north.
As functional as it is beautiful, the
amautik is a large parka with a broad
hood and, most important, a pouch inside the
parka for carrying a child against the wearer’s back.
The child is placed in an amautik by being lifted
over the mother’s head and lowered into the amaut,
or pouch. A good little jiggle then settles the child
into the pouch. The cut of an amautik’s sleeves and
shoulders are generous enough to allow the mother
to carry the child on her back and the child to have
access to the breast from inside the garment.
The large hood covers mother and child, with the
excess fabric oﬀ to one side. This gap permits air to
ﬂow down to the little one, and lets the child stand
and peek out the side with his face beside his mother’s. (It may actually appear as if the child is being
carried in the hood.) A small baby will “disappear”
into an amautik’s warmth; a larger baby, toddler, or
child will be able to sit, stand, and move around in
the back of his mother’s amaut. In a properly ﬁtted
amautik, the child’s weight is evenly distributed
from below the mother’s breasts to the top of her
shoulders and is thus easily carried.
The unique cut and pattern of each amautik
reveal details about an Inuit woman’s age, her geographical home, the season, and her family tradi-
B Y
the magic
cloth
Feeling bedraggled and ugly, a new mom ﬁnds that a gorgeous sling
transforms her from frumpy mama to fashionista.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR
B Y
WHEN I BECAME A PARENT , my
traditional accoutrements of femininity
went by the wayside. Necklaces became pull toys for busy, exploring hands.
Scarves served as nooses for strangling
mama. Gabardine blazers, cashmere
ponchos, silk wraps—all were covered in
puke, breastmilk, urine, or some combination of the above. I stuffed these accessories into the back of my closet, along with
any expectations of sartorial beauty.
Most of the time, when I hovered
about my daughter, Grace, I considered
my day a success if I remembered to
wear deodorant. And the only pre-pregnancy clothes that ﬁt me were the ones
with grandma-style elastic waistbands.
Then, a girlfriend who had started her own
business making baby slings gave me one
of her top-notch beauties as a gift. This
time-tested baby carrier rapidly became
my most prized fashion embellishment.
To the nonparent, it may sound a bit
odd to say that my most precious fashion
item held a baby. (At least I’m not completely cheesing out by suggesting that
my best accessory was the baby herself.)
But unlike many baby carriers, their fabrics
printed with tacky ducky and teddy-bear designs, this sling rocked. It featured Chinese
silk brocade in a vivid sage green—intense
but not gaudy. Tiny white and
yellow ﬂowers and vines embellished the luxurious cloth, creating a look that was eye-catching
yet classic. Never mind that this
elegant sack held my cherished
offspring—the container itself
transformed me from frumpy,
sleep-deprived matron into hip
and sassy mama.
The exquisite baby carrier replaced my
need for real accessories. Most of the time,
I threw it on over jeans and a dirty white Tshirt for a quick walk around my San Francisco neighborhood. The silky fabric distracted
R O B I N
onlookers from the ever-present circles of
leaking breastmilk that stained my shirts.
I delighted in the attention given not just
to my baby but to her carrier. Of course,
fellow-mothers often stopped me to ask
where I’d found such a lovely thing, but I
also got a fair share of compliments from
unexpected admirers. The blue-haired
barista at the corner coffeehouse regularly
cooed at my hipster sling, and the guy who
lived above us begged to know where I’d
found the fabric. (He needed to score a few
yards to make a shirt for his boyfriend.)
My sling bolstered my delicate ego,
still ﬂoundering in the face of my momentous life transition. It even saved the day
on the occasion of a fashion crisis.
When Grace was about eight weeks
old, we had plans to attend a wedding.
In honor of the affair, and desperate to
celebrate my bidding good riddance to
maternity clothes, I bought a new skirt and
blouse. On the day of the event, already
decked out in my new party duds, I sat
down in the rocking chair to give Grace a
quickie feeding before we left the house.
That nursing session triggered a gastrointestinal event of Biblical proportions as
Grace experienced one of those nuclearexplosion–style poops. It leaked out of her
diaper and all over my new outﬁt.
Panicked and late, I threw on a
stretchy knit skirt and a shapeless,
sleeveless sweater, then rushed
out the door. I sat in the back row
of the church, smoldering with my
own self-labeling: Ugly. Frazzled.
Envious of the nonmaternal women
who ﬁlled out their strapless
dresses with curvaceous ease.
Later, at the reception, we got
out of the car and I placed my sling over my
sad ensemble. Grace snuggled inside, and
we entered the reception hall.
Something magical happened. Maybe
it was my imagination, but I like to think
D U T T O N - C O O K S T O N
my fancy green sling transformed me a bit
that day. Its shine illuminated my curly red
hair, still thick from pregnancy hormones.
The fabric disguised the postpartum
spare tire that encircled my waist. My
cheeks, ﬂushed with the music and chatter,
reﬂected my lustrous silken ornament, and
my eyes sparkled with laughter. The whole
room stared at me, admiring the beautiful
new mother with the gorgeous baby sling.
Although I still sorely missed my expensive wraps and delicate jewelry, I didn’t
care. I knew that I’d get them all back
someday, and that my sling’s hour of glory
was ﬂeeting. Like the ﬁnite nature of babyhood, it was meant to be part of my life for
only a precious window of time before it
took its turn at the back of my closet.
And, when Grace got a little older, it felt
great to ﬁnally pull out some of my pre-baby
accessories. But somehow, none of them
has ever felt as beautiful as my sling.
Robin Dutton-Cookston’s musings appear
in various publications, including her
own parenting ’zine, Apron Strings.
BABYWEARING 101
|
mothering
16
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